System of indexes



Dec. 8, 1931. E STRASSEL 1,835,678

Patented Dec. 8,11931 1 rr sr rss EDWARD STRASSEL, OF BROOKLYN, N EW YORK SYSTEM or Innsxns Application filed May 17,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a system of indexes, and has for its main purpose to provide means whereby it will be easy to locate objects, that is names, etc., to Which a system of indexes usually pertain.

Thus, contrary to the present index-system, generally used, where, when the boxmethod is employed, it will take a consider- T able time to separate the cards and look for the names desired, it is only necessary with the use of my system to release the eventual pressure on the cards somewhat Vand these Will become suiiiciently separated to permit a clear view of the caption and upper portion of the cards. p

As an incidental feature it deserves to be pointed out, that in separating the cards by means of my said device a certain inVo1untary mental assistance, or tentative suggestion imparted to the mind of the person trying to locate a name, if this is not clearly remembcred, as the cards through the application of my device will spring up, or separate in a manner that will give a comparatively clear view of all the names contained in the index. i

This is a feature never acc-omplished before, and which will prove a decided mental help to the person using the indexsystem.

As this device is very simple of construction and inexpensive to apply, and as the principles may be adapted to, as well old systems, and systems which are in use, as new systems of indexed-it is thought that this device should meet with a general approval and success on the market.

TWith the above and other objectsin view, this invention consists -of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully claimed, described and illustratcd in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in-all views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective edge-view of a card index utilizing my device with a portion of the index-cards in the center broken away;

1920. sena: No. '453,1491

Figure 2 is a fragmentarytop plan view;

Figure 3 shows they separator device embodying my invention. I

Referring more particularly to vthe drawings, 10 indicates a box member, containing index-cards ll the said cards inay'or may not be engaged upon a rod-member, sometimes arranged at the bottom-of a card-box or incleX-file.v i i' *i i Instead ofl separating the cards with'the 61' finger nails, asis customa'ry, when using the index-system, the said cards Will automatically separate themselves or assume a certain distance from one another by means of a'separator member 12 inserted between each two 65 successive cards. f

The said member 12 consists of preferably a' thin sheet of paper, although other kinds of material may serve the purpose as Well. The said paper has a somewhat corrugated or 7( rather wavy form brought about by submitting it to a certain heat and chemical treatment, which in addition leaves thesaid paper with a. springy property with the result that whenever possible the said sheet of paper Will expand to the extent of the said projecting wavy form of the said paper, without regard to how tight the latter may have been compressed, the said paper will then in turn automatically urge a separation or spreading out of the said index-cards to the extent of making the top portion 'of the latter fully visible.

VVhen two of the members 12 are arranged with their concave sides facing each other, they will in case of removal of an index-card placed between them, clearly show where such card is missing by means of the relative distance Vcreated by such two members between the adjoining cards. i

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, as shown, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not therefore limit myself to the construction and I arrangement shown and described herein.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1. A device of the class described, comprising a box-member having therein index-cards and substantially rect-angular sheet-members arranged between each of said cards, each of the said sheet members being formed so as to present an undnlated springy surface and disposed alternately relative to said indexcards for urging these cards apart from one I another to render portions thereof visible,

2. An *index-system, comprising a framemember, a plurality of cards arranged in the latter, and a number of substantially rectangular sheet members, each Vformed -With'la Wavy surface and being' of'a. resilient property,V the said members being disposed among said cards to nrge the latter from one another in order to partly expose the surface of the. individual cards. p

3,. -In-an index system comprising a container having a plurality-of -vertically disposed cards theren, Wavy sheet-members of lessV-height than said cards VIand disposed between the latter toirender a portion of-the top of each-.card-visible.

signed atNew YorkV city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of May,lA. D. 1930.

p 1 i EDVVARD STRASSEL.

*'QU i sisv I, 

